Nonito. Yuriorkis. Your Official Pick.

[Elotero]

I don't know, my mind has changed about this fight over the past few months

I will take Donaire...WHY? Because for a guy that had a LEGENDARY Amateur Career...Gambioa makes A LOT OF MISTAKES and have a lot of HOLES IN HIS STYLE especially defensively

Holes that someone like Donaire can surely EXPLOIT! can he really afford to keep his hands down against another fighter with good hand speed? things are different when your not the CLEAR CUT fastest/most athletic guy in the ring

while Gamboa will probably have the Speed Advantage over Donaire, it is not a HUGE GAP or HUGE DIFFERENCE in Speed

not just Donaire though, I think Gary Russell Jr in another year or so, Mikey Garcia and a few others, I think those young fighters are going to give him problems as well, it just depends on who gets to him first!

Gamboa is a BEAST...but he is not unbeatable, once again fans see a few KO's and they start to OVERRATED A FIGHTER A LITTLE

"once again fans see a few KO's and they start to OVERRATED A FIGHTER A LITTLE"

Aren't you doing that right now with Donaire? In a weight class he hasn't even fought at yet?

You are comparing a proven, fast, powerful guy who exists @ 126 vs a guy who hasn't even fought @ 126.

[CubanGuyNYC]

I don't know, my mind has changed about this fight over the past few months

I will take Donaire...WHY? Because for a guy that had a LEGENDARY Amateur Career...Gambioa makes A LOT OF MISTAKES and have a lot of HOLES IN HIS STYLE especially defensively

Holes that someone like Donaire can surely EXPLOIT! can he really afford to keep his hands down against another fighter with good hand speed? things are different when your not the CLEAR CUT fastest/most athletic guy in the ring

while Gamboa will probably have the Speed Advantage over Donaire, it is not a HUGE GAP or HUGE DIFFERENCE in Speed

not just Donaire though, I think Gary Russell Jr in another year or so, Mikey Garcia and a few others, I think those young fighters are going to give him problems as well, it just depends on who gets to him first!

Gamboa is a BEAST...but he is not unbeatable, once again fans see a few KO's and they start to OVERRATED A FIGHTER A LITTLE

You make some valid points. If you examine something long enough, you tend to second-guess yourself. lol

Yuri fights the way he does because he can. Against someone as talented as Nonito, the game-plan might very well change. Gamboa has shown a willingness and ability to change his approach. In the Whyber Garcia fight, Yuri started the match differently than his previous bouts. His trainer wanted him to work on his defense. Once it was clear that Garcia was there for the taking, Gamboa's trainer literally told him, "Let the dogs loose." Yuriorkis then proceeded to tear through Garcia.

Gamboa is physically stronger than Donaire. I have no doubt about that. Nonito is a smart, technical fighter. Yuri could nullify that by making a fight with Donaire very physical. I envision Gamboa working on the inside all night long, while Donaire will be trying to fight from the outside. Unfortunately for Nonito, "El Ciclon" is too fast and too strong to keep at bay.

Nonetheless, you're right; no one is unbeatable, certainly not forever....

[Fay]

Yuriorkis Gamboa

[CubanGuyNYC]

"once again fans see a few KO's and they start to OVERRATED A FIGHTER A LITTLE"

Aren't you doing that right now with Donaire? In a weight class he hasn't even fought at yet?

You are comparing a proven, fast, powerful guy who exists @ 126 vs a guy who hasn't even fought @ 126.

The bolded statement is ironclad.

I've seen Nonito get tagged hard by guys who aren't as fast, powerful, strong or aggressive as Gamboa. I'm willing to wait and see what Donaire looks like at featherweight before making more committed remarks, but at least we already know what Yuri looks like at 126. Nonito is a question mark.

[peyk-peyk]

Donaire by a brutal left hook.

[sicko]

"once again fans see a few KO's and they start to OVERRATED A FIGHTER A LITTLE"

Aren't you doing that right now with Donaire? In a weight class he hasn't even fought at yet?

You are comparing a proven, fast, powerful guy who exists @ 126 vs a guy who hasn't even fought @ 126.

UH...NO! Your ASSUMING that I would pick Donaire based on him Knocking Out Montiel...Who said anything about Donaire Power...Donaire wins on SKILLS...NOT POWER IMO, I was impressed with Donaire SKILLS LONG BEFORE THE MONTIEL FIGHT/KO

as for fighting at 126, it might effect his Power but it won't effect his SKILLS

some think this fight would come down to "Power vs Power" that is not how I view it, I think it would be a tough long fight for BOTH

[project xxx1]

Donaire by ko........big statement but im sticking with it

[sicko]

You make some valid points. If you examine something long enough, you tend to second-guess yourself. lol

Yuri fights the way he does because he can. Against someone as talented as Nonito, the game-plan might very well change. Gamboa has shown a willingness and ability to change his approach. In the Whyber Garcia fight, Yuri started the match differently than his previous bouts. His trainer wanted him to work on his defense. Once it was clear that Garcia was there for the taking, Gamboa's trainer literally told him, "Let the dogs loose." Yuriorkis then proceeded to tear through Garcia.

Gamboa is physically stronger than Donaire. I have no doubt about that. Nonito is a smart, technical fighter. Yuri could nullify that by making a fight with Donaire very physical. I envision Gamboa working on the inside all night long, while Donaire will be trying to fight from the outside. Unfortunately for Nonito, "El Ciclon" is too fast and too strong to keep at bay.

Nonetheless, you're right; no one is unbeatable, certainly not forever....

but to be fair to Gamboa who I am a fan of also by the way, he hasn't fought anybody that has forced him to be defensive and forced him to change things up and keep his hands up

Cuban fighters are known for their WELL ROUNDED SKILLS so I am sure Gamboa can be more defensive when he has to be

but I am just saying if he keeps his hands down against Donaire then he can make him pay for it, but if Gamboa fights smart and keeps his hands up, then I would pick Gamboa to win

[CubanGuyNYC]

UH...NO! Your ASSUMING that I would pick Donaire based on him Knocking Out Montiel...Who said anything about Donaire Power...Donaire wins on SKILLS...NOT POWER IMO, I was impressed with Donaire SKILLS LONG BEFORE THE MONTIEL FIGHT/KO

as for fighting at 126, it might effect his Power but it won't effect his SKILLS

some think this fight would come down to "Power vs Power" that is not how I view it, I think it would be a tough long fight for BOTH

Nonito is indeed skilled. However, skills are affected by various factors...weight being one of them, the opponent being another. It's one thing to keep a smaller, less talented, less fast, less strong, less powerful opponent at bay; it's another to keep Gamboa at bay. The skills are still there, they just won't be as effective. Will they be enough is the question.

[garfios]

Gamboa is a beast at 126, I don't c Nonito hearing the bell for the 12th, I think even at 122 he has another Cuban that could make him look silly, ND is used to fight guys smallest than him, getting hit by a fast and powerful combo thrown by Gamboa can change a lots of minds, including his.